The actors instrument is something actors may have heard before, especially if they study the Meisner acting technique. While directors and actors are sometimes at odds due to creative differences, the truth is actors are the instruments, the components, that make up a successful production with a director as a conductor. Actors are the most important element of the overall "symphony" known as The Story, the instruments directors use to effectively tell that story. The job actors have is that of vision casting, taking the ideas and vision of the writer and director and making it into something believable and real using their actors instrument. The actors instrument is the most valuable element in any project, for without complex, fascinating characters there really is no story.
Instruments are made to create beautiful sound, while actors must express uniquely human characteristics using many different forms of expression. Internal and external expressions are necessary, and actors that study the Meisner technique know how to integrate them all in a fascinating way to create their "instrument." The aspects of the actors instrument can be grouped into six general categories known as Sensory expression, Imagination, Intelligence, Physical expression, Empathy and emotion. By mastering as many of these aspects as possible, and working hard at developing all of them, an actor has the ability to take on any role. Some of the most successful, award winning actors have mastered all six of these forms of expression.
Actors need to be aware of their unique physical nature and the physical nature of characters and not confuse the two. Physical expression and habits of physical movement is an aspect of acting that Meisner acting in nyc looks to examine and use to create character. Theatre requires a different movement technique than physical expression for film. An actor needs to adjust for any situation and have a huge repertoire of physical expressions techniques memorized.
Of course, personality actors can become top actors who are hired again and again, even though they express themselves physically in similar ways for every role. There are easily ten or fifteen actors who fall into this category that you can list without thinking too hard. Certainly, a charismatic personality is an extremely important aspect of the actors instrument, whether it is external, internal or both. Great actors have the ability to use physical expression to completely alter their appearance by using facial, and body movement. The list of actors that have mastered this would include Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Daniel Day Lewis, just to name a few.
Many actors in the history of stage and film have been strong physical actors, such as Stallone, John Wayne and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Actors that have an ability to develop and project strong physical characteristics to express character can handle any role. Actors who know how to move and express themselves physically in many different ways to create different characters has gone even deeper into their craft.
This is not to say that tricks like limping or changing a facial expression to show a mood is all that is required. You must inhabit the created physical world of the production in a physical way that is truthful and be able to do it before there are physical crutches like sets, props, costumes and make up. The greatest actors use physical space and physical expression to enhance and express all other aspects of the instrument. The most versatile actors have worked hard to develop this. There are charismatic actors in abundance but, over the long haul it may not be enough to keep you working. Learning to create the physical aspects of a character, and using it to enrich the other elements of the actors instrument, will get you the work you desire.
Instruments are made to create beautiful sound, while actors must express uniquely human characteristics using many different forms of expression. Internal and external expressions are necessary, and actors that study the Meisner technique know how to integrate them all in a fascinating way to create their "instrument." The aspects of the actors instrument can be grouped into six general categories known as Sensory expression, Imagination, Intelligence, Physical expression, Empathy and emotion. By mastering as many of these aspects as possible, and working hard at developing all of them, an actor has the ability to take on any role. Some of the most successful, award winning actors have mastered all six of these forms of expression.
Actors need to be aware of their unique physical nature and the physical nature of characters and not confuse the two. Physical expression and habits of physical movement is an aspect of acting that Meisner acting in nyc looks to examine and use to create character. Theatre requires a different movement technique than physical expression for film. An actor needs to adjust for any situation and have a huge repertoire of physical expressions techniques memorized.
Of course, personality actors can become top actors who are hired again and again, even though they express themselves physically in similar ways for every role. There are easily ten or fifteen actors who fall into this category that you can list without thinking too hard. Certainly, a charismatic personality is an extremely important aspect of the actors instrument, whether it is external, internal or both. Great actors have the ability to use physical expression to completely alter their appearance by using facial, and body movement. The list of actors that have mastered this would include Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp, Daniel Day Lewis, just to name a few.
Many actors in the history of stage and film have been strong physical actors, such as Stallone, John Wayne and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Actors that have an ability to develop and project strong physical characteristics to express character can handle any role. Actors who know how to move and express themselves physically in many different ways to create different characters has gone even deeper into their craft.
This is not to say that tricks like limping or changing a facial expression to show a mood is all that is required. You must inhabit the created physical world of the production in a physical way that is truthful and be able to do it before there are physical crutches like sets, props, costumes and make up. The greatest actors use physical space and physical expression to enhance and express all other aspects of the instrument. The most versatile actors have worked hard to develop this. There are charismatic actors in abundance but, over the long haul it may not be enough to keep you working. Learning to create the physical aspects of a character, and using it to enrich the other elements of the actors instrument, will get you the work you desire.
About the Author:
The Maggie Flanigan Studio provides acting classes in NYC for serious actors. Find out more about meisner acting at the studio website or read this article about acting instrument.